Seneca celebrates Black History Month

Elevating Our Future was the title of the sixth annual Black History Luncheon Celebration hosted by the Bertha Lee Strickland Cultural Museum (BLSCM) and the City of Seneca. Friday’s event at the Seneca River Family Institute drew its largest crowd ever with over 350 people in attendance. BLSCM Manager Shelby Henderson tells about this year’s keynote speaker. “You can’t top who we had this year. I used to work with Merl back in the 90’s at his Seneca Law Office and he has taught me a tremendous amount about ethics, work ethics and just about law. I’m just so privileged to have him here today. Every year our luncheons get better and better. I wonder how I’m going to top myself because this year we topped ourselves. Our exhibit is still “Segregation, Integration, Assimilation” and we will run it through May 25, so that school have an opportunity to see the exhibit because they do most of their tours in the spring. We will have a new exhibit around the first of April and that will be “Bertha’s Kitchen”. So, we are looking forward to that too and that will be in memory of Mrs. Bertha Lee Strickland. It will be the only permanent exhibit in the museum where we will unveil everything that we know about her family and her life here in Seneca.” The Honorable Merl Code Sr. wanted those in attendance to leave with a greater sense of community. “Optimistic, excited and really about the relationships that have developed over the years between the communities of Oconee County; that is the African-American community, white community and Hispanic community to show that we are a community in terms of being what we all can be. Opportunities, fairness, dignity, all of those things are part of what a great community should be and I think this is a great community.” Seneca Mayor Dan Alexander said the luncheon was a great way to observe Black History Month. “This is a very special day. This is the largest attendance that we have ever had and I’m real excited that it continues to grow every year with lots of people coming together. Merl Code was the guest speaker and he did a great job. This just shows how our community comes together to help share the stories. I’m excited for what the city council has done over the years setting up the museum.” The BLSCM is located at 208 West South 2nd Street in Seneca. It is open for tours Tuesday through Saturday from 11am to 4pm. Admission is free.